2006 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, La Tache Grand Cru 3x75cl

Vinous 96

The 2006 La Tache Grand Cru is a vintage that I had not tasted since it was in barrel. But what a gorgeous wine it has turned out. The bouquet is so seductive, a heady mixture of red and blue fruit, pressed violets and citrus fruit that soar from the glass with amazing precision. The palate is medium-bodied with precise tannin, velvety smooth in texture with layers of red fruit laced with black cherries, Earl Grey and even a hint of liquorice. Monitoring the wine over several minutes it seems to gain depth and persistence. Beautiful. Tasted at 67 Pall Mall. [Neal Martin, 07/05/2019]

Anticipated maturity: 2022-2050

Robert Parker 94

Domaine de La Romanee-Conti’s 2006 La Tache possesses a sense of sheer density and a viscosity – by no means precluding energy – that go beyond the other wines in the Domaine’s current collection. Scents of bitter-sweet floral perfume, citrus oils, white pepper, peat, and black fruit distillates pungently, almost aggressively fill the nose. The marrow and beef gelatin aspect of this Pinot is salient, but is allied on a palpably tannic palate with similarly impressive concentrated cooked black fruits, dark mushroom stock, forest floor, smoky Lapsang tea, and licorice. For grip and power, too, this surpasses its stable mates. But a glance back at the Romanee-St.-Vivant suggests that you can’t have it all, and that this La Tache cannot approach that wine’s finesse or quite equal its mystery. Still, I suspect this will be worth following for at least two decades. [David Schildknecht, 01/12/2009]

Anticipated maturity: 2009-2029